Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfroc2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFROC2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; rapid, uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Oct. 17, 2020

Ser. No. 63/093,198

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S.Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘DLFROC2’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Mar. 19, 2020, application number 2020/0782. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

A Japanese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Jul. 30, 2020, application number 34846. Foreign priorityis not claimed to this application.

A Malaysian Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Sep. 29, 2020, application number PVBT 049/20. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

A Vietnamese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plantwas filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Oct. 16, 2020, application number 2020_170. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

A Colombian Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Dec. 29, 2020, application number A202741. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

A Chinese Plant Breeders' Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Mar. 2, 2021, application number 20211001376. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFROC2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Delibaltica’, not patented. Thenew Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Delibaltica’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June,2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since June, 2015 in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFROC2’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFROC2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Rapid, uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.    -   5. Decorative-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray        florets.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of themutation parent, ‘Delibaltica’ in ray floret color as ray florets ofplants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright yellow in color whereas rayflorets of plants of ‘Delibaltica’ are white in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibaltica Yellow’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differprimarily from plants of ‘Delibaltica Yellow’ in response time as plantsof the new Chrysanthemum flower about one week earlier than plants of‘Delibaltica Yellow’. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the newChrysanthemum are smaller than inflorescences of ‘Delibaltica Yellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFROC2’ grown as aspray-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view ofupper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences (topof figure) and typical leaves (bottom of figure) of ‘DLFROC2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-typeplants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFROC2’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum    x morifolium ‘Delibaltica’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 72.2            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 77.4 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 24.7 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 68 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 143A.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146A and 147C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 12.6 cm. Width: About 7.6 cm. Shape, in overall            outline: Obovate to broadly elliptic. Apex: Abruptly acute,            minute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely            dentate to serrate; sinuses parallel to slightly divergent            and medium in depth to deep. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Moderately to densely pubescent, not rugose;            slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Moderately to densely pubescent, prominent            venation; slightly glossy. Venation pattern: Pinnate,            reticulate. Color: Developing and fully developed leaves,            upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 139A; venation,            close to 146A. Developing and fully developed leaves, lower            surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petioles:            Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to            NN137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 147B; edges, close to            137B. Stipules: Quantity, appearance and arrangement: Two            leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole attachment to the            stem. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape, in            overall outline: Roughly reniform. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;            inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face            mostly upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on            a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            51 days later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain            good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior            environment; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,            about 22 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About            8.6 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 3 cm.            Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: If disc florets are            present, about 1 mm; inconspicuous.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About            1.2 cm. Shape: Flattened spherical. Texture and luster:            Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing            involucral bracts, close to 137B and 138C; developing ray            florets, close to 4B and 4C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 200 arranged in            about eight whorls. Length: About 2.9 cm, varying between            0.9 cm and 4.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm, varying between 0.1 cm            and 1.8 mm. Shape: Obovate; moderately convex, moderately            carinate. Apex: Shallowly praemorse to shallowly emarginate.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: About            20° to 90° from vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 4A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 5D; distally,            close to 4B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 4B;            distally, close to 4A; venation, close to 4B and 4A; color            does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 4C; distally, close to 4B; venation,            close to 4C and 4B; color does not change with subsequent            development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: If present, about            one or two at the center of the receptacle. Length: About            5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 80% fused into a            tube; upper 20% free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part:            Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and            outer surfaces: Apex: Close to N144C. Mid-section and base:            Close to 157D. Color, fully opened, inner and outer            surfaces: Apex: Close to 150C. Mid-section and base: Close            to 157D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            144A; lateral margins, translucent and close to 145D and            157A and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 137B and NN137A; lateral margins,            translucent and close to 145D and 157A and apical margins            tinged with close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.6 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 7.1 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.            Aspect, third peduncle: About 50° from the flowering stem            axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately            glossy. Color: Close to slightly darker than 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 1.75 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:            Close to 151C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            17A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.            Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style            length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to three-parted,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close            to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum    spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new    Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under    commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFROC2’as illustrated and described.